The Guabito-Sixaola border is the main land route travellers take when leaving Bocas del Toro and heading to the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. If you're beginning in Bocas and finishing in Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, or Manzanillo, this is the one you’ll use.

With a bit of planning, it’s relatively simple to do independently; you don't need a shuttle and you don't need a tour company!

This guide explains how to reach the border from Bocas, how the Panama exit works, what Costa Rica may ask for when you enter, and the most practical ways to continue onwards to Puerto Viejo and beyond.

Updated October 2025

#1 | Getting to The Border

Step One / Bocas Town to Almirante

All journeys from Bocas del Toro begin in Bocas Town, at the boat departure point (find it here on Google Maps).

If you bought a return ticket when boarding in Almirante, you’ll have to go with the same company but if not, simply buy a single ticket from the office.

Tickets cost $6 USD per person (no need to book ahead), the journey back over to the mainland takes around 30 minutes and boats leave around every 30 minutes between 6am and 6pm.

Step Two / Almirante to Guabito

From the dock, you have two options:

· Option One | Jump in one of the waiting shared taxis offering transport to the border. These usually departs once 3-4 passengers are seated, cost $10 USD per person, and take around an hour to reach Guabito. A private taxi can be arranged for more, but unless you’re travelling as a group it rarely makes financial sense.

· Option Two | If budget is your priority, you may prefer to hop in a shared cab - $1 per person - to Almirante bus station (we use the term ‘bus station’ quite loosely here - it’s more of a stop at the side of the road) and then take a local minibus from Almirante to Changuinola.

Minibuses to Changuinola leave when full (usually every 30 - 45 minutes) and cost $1.50 USD. Journey time is around 30 minutes to 45 minutes depending upon traffic.

Just around the corner from the final stop, you'll find Changuinola bus station. Ask around for a bus to 'Guabito or La Frontera' and someone will point you to the clunky old school buses, which depart every half-hour or so and cost $1 USD per person. Alternatively you can take a shared taxi ($2-3 USD) to the border.

Coming from David? From David City, you can access two borders. The first at Paso Canoas (less than an hour away) is the largest in the country and is best if you want direct access to the south or west coast of Costa Rica - don't make the mistake of going here if your hostel reservation is in Puerto Viejo!

The Sixaola-Guabito border is around four hours away from David, meaning an early morning start is required if you want to make it all the way to Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast.

To begin with, make your way to David's bus terminal where the mini-buses to Changuinola are located, leaving at least once every hour. Though often quite tightly packed, these buses have air-con and will stop once en-route for some food.

From Changuinola, follow the route laid out above.

The Shuttle Option

Several companies also offer a combined door-to-door shuttle from Bocas Town all the way to Puerto Viejo.

These services include the boat to Almirante, transport to the border, guidance through immigration, and a van waiting on the Costa Rican side to continue onward. They normally depart around 7.30am and 11.30am (but some companies do offer more options), and cost $25-35 USD per person depending upon the company.

We tend to cross borders independently so don’t have a personal recommendation, but you can find lots of options, compare prices and book on Bookaway, or ask your accommodation for a recommendation.

#2 | Exit Panama

Panama immigration at Guabito is straightforward; the official building is just ahead of the main road.

Go inside, join the queue, and present your passport. The officer will verify your entry details, stamp you out of the country, and wave you onward. There are no forms to purchase and no exit fee.

If anyone outside tells you otherwise, ignore them - they are not official.

Once stamped, walk straight ahead toward and across the bridge (the collapsing wooden railway bridge has long gone since the first time we made this journey - but it lives on in our memories as one of the most interesting ways to leave and enter a new country!)

It’s a five-minute walk across the river, with no intermediate checks until you reach Costa Rica.

#4 | Enter Costa Rica

Costa Rica immigration handles arrivals and departures at the same counters, and this is where most travellers slow down. Join the line for arrivals and present your passport when called.

There is no entry tax or form to buy. However, officers may ask for proof of onward travel - this is the requirement most commonly enforced at this border. A bus ticket to Nicaragua or a flight from San José is usually accepted. Responses such as “I haven’t decided yet” almost always result in delays or denial.

It’s also possible for officials to ask for evidence of funds, although this is infrequent. A bank statement screenshot, an ATM receipt, or simply showing a working credit card is normally sufficient. Accommodation confirmation may also be requested; having your hostel or hotel booking saved offline avoids frustration if mobile data is patchy.

Once your passport is stamped, you’re officially back in Costa Rica.

Potential Tip // If you’ve got no proof of onward travel but know you're only going to be in country for a 7-14 days it’s worth stating this to the immigration officers and asking for a visa up until that time. They may not grant this to everyone, but it is possible.

#5 Onward Travel to Puerto Viejo

After immigration, follow the road into Sixaola town. The bus stop, supermarkets, and small eateries are just a short walk from the building. Avoid any mini-bus or taxi touts as it's very easy to make your way independently to Puerto Viejo, it just takes a little more time.

The simplest option is to take a MEPE bus. These leave at half past the hour, every hour starting from 5.30am (on Sundays and holidays, it’s every two hours) and head north through Bribri and Cahuita before arriving in Puerto Viejo. The journey takes around 90 minutes and costs approximately 2,200 colones (about $5 USD).

If you booked a shuttle service from Bocas, you’ll rejoin it here after immigration. The driver will wait once everyone has cleared the Costa Rican side and continue the last leg by road.

Heading Beyond the Coast? Most travellers spend at least one or two nights in Puerto Viejo, but if you plan to continue the same day, it is possible.

To reach Limón, stay on the MEPE bus or transfer to a northbound service in Bribri or Puerto Viejo. From Limón, boats and buses continue to Tortuguero.

For San José, there are direct buses from Sixaola but the last departs around 3pm - if you want to make this connection, we recommend taking the first boat from Bocas.

Reaching the Pacific Coast from this crossing is a longer undertaking and rarely practical in a single day.